Towson named ‘Military Friendly School’ for fifth consecutive year

Patrick Young directs the Veterans Center, where TU’s veteran students can study, learn about their benefits and, most importantly, find camaraderie.

G.I. Jobs magazine has once again counted Towson University among the most military friendly colleges and universities in the country.

The list recognizes the top 15 percent of institutions in the nation that best support the United States’ military service members, veterans and spouses as students. This is the fifth straight year Towson University has been honored.

“We are committed to serving our veteran students and providing support to this unique part of our student population,” says Patrick Young, a Marine combat veteran and coordinator for Veteran Services at TU.

“This recognition both reaffirms that our work has been effective, but also pushes us to continue our service to our veteran students and their families.”

The university’s veterans services include a 900-square-foot Veterans Center, equipped with computers, print stations, and study and meeting spaces; and a Student Veterans Group that hosts events, collects goods for deployed troops and allows veterans to come together in a risk-free environment.

In addition to serving Towson University veteran students, the Veterans Center partnered with Towson Athletics this year to support the families of two local National Guard units. Operation Guardian Tiger hosted an event this summer that brought the families and some active-duty members of the National Guard to campus to meet with Towson coaches and athletes, as well as play basketball and football in the university’s facilities.

Through the program, care packages will be sent overseas to deployed troops, and family members will receive tickets to Towson University sporting events.